Greece, Cyprus, Italy and Malta deepen maritime cooperation at Rome summit
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Greece, Cyprus, Italy and Malta have reaffirmed their commitment to closer cooperation on shipping following a meeting of their maritime ministers on the sidelines of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) summit in Rome.
The meeting brought together Greek Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Minister Vassilis Kikilias, Cyprus Shipping Deputy Minister Marina Hadjimanolis, Italy’s Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Edoardo Rixi and Malta’s Minister for Sustainable Mobility Chris Bonett.
Writing on his personal platform after the meeting, Kikilias said the discussions had taken place “in a particularly warm atmosphere”, adding that cooperation between the four Mediterranean countries had become an established tradition.
“Our countries are leading European shipping and share a unique common understanding due to their location in the Mediterranean,” he said.
The talks were held during the ‘Shaping the Future of Shipping Summit 2026 – Forging Partnerships for Resilience’, organised by the International Chamber of Shipping in Rome.
The summit brought together government officials, shipping leaders and international organisations as the global maritime sector faces geopolitical tensions, regulatory changes, supply-chain pressures and the challenges of the green transition.
Kikilias said he attached particular importance to the quadrilateral partnership, describing it as a cooperation that was already delivering results in a sector of critical importance to the four countries’ economies and societies.
“I thank them warmly and I am glad that we are companions at all the critical ‘crossroads’ for shipping,” he added.
The meeting also followed Hadjimanolis’ participation in the summit’s opening panel, where ministers and senior maritime representatives discussed the future of shipping, competitiveness, sustainability, security and the need for stronger international cooperation.
For Cyprus, the discussions formed part of Shipping Deputy Minister Hadjimanolis’ three-day working visit to Rome, during which she was scheduled to hold meetings with Kikilias, Bonett and Rixi, as well as representatives of European institutions and international shipping organisations.
The summit coincided with the release of the ICS Maritime Barometer, which identified geopolitical instability as the leading risk facing global shipping. The report also highlighted cyber threats, regulatory fragmentation, administrative burdens and changing trade patterns among the sector’s principal concerns.
The Rome gathering also marked a leadership change at the International Chamber of Shipping, with John Denholm CBE unanimously elected chairman of the organisation’s board, succeeding Emanuele Grimaldi. Denholm said he was assuming the role during a period of considerable upheaval and uncertainty for the global economy and international shipping.
